Rob Caggiano interview

Volbeat‘s newest addition, lead guitarist Rob Caggiano, has had a crazy start to his 2013. In January he announced his departure from thrash legends, Anthrax with whom he recorded two studio albums and performed almost a decade of heavy touring. At the same time he announced he was going to be helping do production work for Volbeat’s new album, “Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies“. A mere month later it was announced that Caggiano accepted an offer to be the band’s new lead guitarist. This month, while Caggiano and Volbeat hit the road in advance of the album’s April 9 release date, the last of the guitarist’s recorded work with Anthrax hit stores in the form of the covers EP, “Anthems“.

Caggiano first appeared on the scene in 1996 with his first band, Boiler Room. The group released one album in 2000 on Tommy Boy Records. A year later he would join Anthrax for a four year stint which would run to 2005. He would appear on the 2003 studio album “We’ve Come For You All” and the 2004 live album, “Music of Mass Destruction“. Caggiano would return for his second stint in 2007, and would be part of the band’s brilliant 2011 comeback album, “Worship Music“.

In 2010, Caggiano recorded as part of The Damned Things, a supergroup featuring fellow Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, as well as Fall Out Boy members Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley, and Every Time I Die members Keith Buckley and Josh Newton. Caggiano says he expects a second album from the band when all parties can find the time to put it together.

Aside from his work with Anthrax and The Damned Things, Caggiano has kept busy with a multitude of production work on albums ranging from Cradle of Filth and Ill Nino to 36 Crazyfists and Straight Line Stitch to Prong and Machine Head.

On March 17, I caught up with Rob on the road in Reno, Nevada. He clarified why he left Anthrax, citing no emotional connection to the music and a lack of being part of the creative process. He also talked about how his production duties for Volbeat turned into a full-time gig, having to learn the Volbeat catalog in mere weeks, and getting back on the road with a new band for the first time in a decade. You can listen to the full interview below, then get out and pick up the new Anthrax EP “Anthems” and get ready for “Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies“. Also watch our previous interview with Volbeat drummer Jon Larsen here.